A train pulls out of a station along Kenya's Mombasa-Nairobi Railway on May 29, 2017.(Photo: Xinhua)

The African Union (AU) recently hailed as "very successful" the meeting with Chinese officials toward the strengthening of mutual partnership in infrastructure development in Africa.

The remark was made by Cheikh Bedda, AU Commission Director for Infrastructure and Energy, during a policy dialogue conference on the implementation of the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), which was held at the headquarters of the AU in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia.

"We've had a very successful meeting with the Chinese through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit held in September 2018," Bedda told African infrastructure sector policymakers and experts.

Bedda also revealed that "in the declaration it was made (during the FOCAC Summit) very clear that infrastructure will remain the top priority for the Chinese partners as well as for the African side."

"When we talk about infrastructure we are also talking about the rural areas," Bedda added.

The AU Commission director also said that African partners, mainly China, have now a better understanding of Africa's agenda and plan towards the continent's development, with due emphasis given to the infrastructure sector.

"We note with great deal of satisfaction that the partners have begun to understand this continent has its own approach and its priorities have to be respected as they are anchored on AU Agenda 2063," Bedda.

Noting PIDA as "a catalyst for inclusive development on the continent," Bedda also stressed that partners and the African continent "are leaving with a shared conviction that PIDA will constitute the most appropriate framework for inclusive development in terms of the continent's infrastructure."